IPS Commitment to Building a Green Future: Inside Spiceken EPZ’s Journey to EDGE Advanced Certification

Built for Sustainability

Spiceken EPZ Ltd (Frigoken®) set out to develop its new facility in line with the globally recognised IFC Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) Advanced standard. The ambition was clear: to build a low-carbon facility that can showcase what sustainable manufacturing looks like in practice. From construction through to its daily operations, every decision – from energy management and water management – was guided by the company’s commitment to reduce environmental impact while enhancing efficiency.

Today, the 19,125-square-meter facility tells its own story through measurable impact. According to the EDGE Advanced certification, it indicates that a project should achieve at least 40% savings in energy, and a minimum of 20% savings in both water consumption and the embodied carbon of construction materials. Spiceken not only met these thresholds but significantly surpassed them, achieving an impressive 63% in energy savings, 54% in water efficiency, and a 66% reduction in embodied energy within its construction materials. In recognition of this performance, the facility earned the EDGE Advanced Certificate.

The building achieved these milestones through several integrated features:

Passive cooling: An optimised northwest orientation, a balanced window-to-wall ratio, and insulated, light cream roofing with a high solar reflective index to eliminate the need for mechanical cooling systems.

Smart lighting: Natural light pours in through skylights, while motion sensors ensure artificial lights are only used when needed.

Clean energy: A 750kWp rooftop solar photovoltaic system supplements grid electricity, alongside a 5 tons-per-hour (TPH) biomass boiler that replaces high-carbon fuels.

Water management: The facility harvests 100% of its rainwater, treats and recycles wastewater, and utilises highly efficient plumbing fixtures.

Low-carbon refrigeration: An ammonia-based system provides sustainable cooling for production areas and cold rooms.

Navigating the Certification

This transformation did not come easily. The journey began at the design stage, where every parameter from sun exposure to water consumption was tested within the EDGE application. After thorough refinement, the early designs surpassed expectations, earning the company the EDGE Advance Preliminary Certification.

The most significant challenge was navigating the rigour of the actual certification process. As construction began, every delivered material and installed system had to match the initial vision. Achieving this required detailed evidence at every step and close coordination among technical teams. Weekly progress meetings were held to review compliance, and all financial records, drawings, and as-built reports were documented for the EDGE auditor’s detailed site assessment.

To ensure success, the project team conducted awareness sessions to align all stakeholders with the project’s sustainability goals. These sessions covered EDGE compliance, the Green Building Framework, and the checklist of measures required by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Construction Standards and Advisory Committee (CSA).

Globally, buildings contribute a significant share of energy use and carbon emissions. Addressing this impact requires dedicated industry leadership. “The transition to green buildings is critical and demands collective action from all stakeholders to ensure resource-efficient, low-carbon integration within the built environment,” says Paul Kanja, IPS, Deputy Head of Special Projects.” “Spiceken EPZ Limited is part of this transformative journey, investing thoughtfully in its new Mang’u facility to champion green building practices.” He adds.

Building on this success, Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) Group is committed to ensure that all new facilities are designed and developed to achieve EDGE Advanced certification, embedding resource efficiency and low carbon performance as a standard across its projects. By driving a low-carbon transition in line with the Paris Agreement, IPS is setting an example for industrial developments in Africa and beyond.

Michelle Muriithi